What a group we were. A pregnant girl in love, a kindly shoemaker, an orphan boy, a blind girl, and a giantess who complained that everyone was in her way when she herself took up the most room. And me, a lonely girl who missed her family and begged for a second chance."
-- Joana (Joana)

Importance: This quote shows that such a diverse group of people, who would never have come into contact otherwise, have been brought together - or rather forced - by war, and the resulting state of emergency.

...your shoes are carrying your most valuable possession – your life."
-- Heinz (Shoe Poet) (Heinz (Shoe Poet) )

Importance: A humble shoe maker shows himself, throughout the novel, to be the wisest character of all, and has learned enough to know that life is more important than possessions, but that a good pair of shoes make a big difference to the quality of that life.

Two warring nations gripped Poland like...
-- Emilia (Emilia)